Child authority: Why adult authority does not exist (and why child authority does exist)

Many adults think that they are authority figures in relation to children. This is a common sentiment amongst American parents and other adults. Adults, especially parents, are encouraged by society to be authority figures over children. The fact of the matter is that children have authority over parents, and parents are to fear the authority of their children.

Child authority is a component in the Christian doctrine of mutual submission. See Colossians 3:20-21:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to secure, vulnerable rest in the love and grace of parents. Children are to rest securely in the sacrifice of parents, just as parent believers rest in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Parents are to be extensions of Christ in the family home, dutifully and selflessly submitting to children just as they would to God, expecting absolutely nothing in return, with children resting safely and securely in the submission of parents. Parents are to submit to children as their enemy, from beneath yet from above, revering and fearing children as vulnerable extensions of God. Christian love for children is a specific form of submission where parents are willing to martyr themselves for their children. 

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to damages or offenses, namely the slightest of personal offense perceived by a child, including, but not limited to, the slightest of offensive touch or speech perceived by a child, stemming from entitlement. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul, and understood in its original context, as a moral statute prohibiting all forms of punitive parenting, including any punishments or controlling demeanor towards children. In the Old Testament, punitive parents were put to death by way of bloodletting, after punishing children one last time. Parents who punished their children were charged with kidnapping, with "kidnapping" being defined under the Law as the slightest of damages or offenses stemming from hostage-taking - child punishment was seen in biblical times as holding your child hostage merely for things they did wrong, thereby treating their children as quartered slaves. Paul here was lifting up the Law in order to convict a group of Greek Christian parents who brought their pagan custom of spanking and punishing children into the church. Paul, contrary to popular legend, was anti-spanking, and opposed any and all punishment of a child in his writings. 

Children, in biblical times, had lawful authority over parents, as vulnerable extensions of God. Children were seen as vulnerable appearances of God on earth, called to judge righteously the charity and generosity of adult-kind, bringing out the best and the worst of adult-kind, convicting parents especially with their vulnerability. Children were seen as the "least of these" in this regard (see also Matt. 25:31-46). Children could issue lawful orders to their parents, and parents had to obey children's orders unless the orders were in violation of the Law or otherwise unworkable. Children were treated with reverence, with parents reverently terrorized by the wrath of their children. 

Speaking against children was considered perjury under Christian law in the Early Church, meaning even complaining about children could be construed as an accusation, and children were seen as sacrosanct. Children could do no wrong in the eyes of the Early Christians, even if they did do things that were considered morally wrong, technically legally. Sometimes, children abused their parents, and parents were instructed to take a beating from their child, and go with the flow in that regard. Society looked the other way at child-to-parent violence, often deeming battered parents a social pariah. Most parents joked about being beaten later, believing they deserved a good beating from their children. Not all children were that demanding, but some were, and they were held in the highest honor as vulnerable extensions of God. 

How did children usually enforce their authority onto parents? Young children cried to summon mothers over to them. Mothers usually comforted the child with skin-on-skin comfort, cooing and reassuring the child with the phrase "this too will pass". Mother and child were naked next to each other, with children being naked all of the time. Older children demanded things from mothers in the form of lawful orders, breaking parents down to the point where they caved to the orders and demands of children. 

Children called the shots in biblical times, not adults. Adults were simply servants to children, providing children with their every need and benign want. Ancient Jewish culture, including the Early Church, was an attachment parenting society, as well as a child worshipping society. Adult authority did not exist like it does today. Children were in authority over their parents, from above yet from beneath, striking reverent fear and terror in parents and other adults with their vulnerability. 

The depraved and entitled parents who provoke their children to anger through punitive parenting will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them be forever cast into the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss which is the ever-burning Hell of fire and torment, suffering God's Wrath forever and ever! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!